Contact device for a high resistive power contactor

Abstract

A contactor comprises, for each phase, a pair of contact devices which comprise a connection strip and at least two conductors provided with a stationary contact, and a movable contact bridge able to close the two stationary contacts or not. According to the invention, the contact device is formed from superposition of a number of pieces equal to the number of conductors, each piece comprising one of the conductors and a connection part corresponding to the connection strip but of smaller thickness. Each of the pieces can be made from folded metal. The connection parts are coupled to one another to form the connection strip by means of holes at the same time as the sets of bars are secured thereto.

1. A contact device for an electrical contactor comprising:
 a substantially flat connection strip having a strip thickness and for connection of power supply bars to the contactor; 
 at least two conductors each extending longitudinally from one of its ends which is secured to the connection strip and to a stationary contact support for operating in conjunction with a movable contact of the contactor; 
 wherein the contact device comprises at least two pieces, each piece being unitary, folded conducting metal; each piece comprises one of the conductors and a connection part; and the connection parts are of identical shape and of smaller thickness than the connection strip thickness so that superposition of said connection parts forms the connection strip of said strip thickness. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the connection strip is greater than 8 mm. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1  wherein the contact supports of each of the conductors are located in the same plane parallel to and offset with respect to the connection strip. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1  comprising two pieces and wherein the connection strip is rectangular, one of its sides being extended on both of its edges by the two conductors. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 4  wherein the two pieces are from the same piece of metal folded to form each of said parts. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 4  wherein each of the conductors is U-shaped with two parallel branches, the first branch comprising the contact support in the same plane parallel to the connection strip, and the second branch is parallel to the first branch and offset with respect to its respective connection part. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 6  wherein the folds of the two pieces are identical. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 1  wherein the connection strip includes four holes for securing the connection parts to one another. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1  further comprising a contact pad of silver alloy brazed onto the contact support of each conductor. 
     
     
       10. An electrical contactor comprising a case wherein at least one pair of contact devices according to  claim 1  is partially positioned, and a contact bridge is moveable to establish connection between the stationary contacts of each pair of contact devices. 
     
     
       11. The contactor according to  claim 10  comprising three pairs of contact devices similar to one another, the contact devices being juxtaposed in the plane of their connection strips. 
     
     
       12. A contact device for an electrical contactor comprising:
 a substantially flat connection strip having a strip thickness greater than 8 mm and for connection of power supply bars to the contactor; two conductors each extending longitudinally from one of its ends which is secured to the connection strip and to a stationary contact support for operating in conjunction with a movable contact of the contactor; wherein the contact device comprises two pieces, each being unitary folded conducting metal, each piece comprising one of the conductors and a connection part which is of identical in shape to, and of smaller thickness than the connection strip of the device so that superposition of said parts forms the connection strip. 
 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 12  further comprising a contact pad of silver alloy brazed onto the contact support of each conductor, and wherein the contact supports of each of the conductors are located in the same plane parallel to, and offset from, the connection strip. 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 12  wherein each of the conductors is U-shaped with two parallel branches, the first branches comprising the contact supports located in the same plane parallel to the connection strip, and the second branches being parallel to the first branches and offset with respect to their respective connection parts. 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 14  wherein the folds of the two conductors are identical, and the two pieces are from the same piece of metal folded to form each of said parts. 
     
     
       16. The device according to  claim 12  wherein the connection strip has four holes therein for securing the connection parts to one another. 
     
     
       17. An electrical contactor comprising a case wherein at least one pair of contact devices according to  claim 12  is partially positioned, and wherein is housed a movable contact bridge for establishing connection between the stationary contacts of each pair of contact devices. 
     
     
       18. A three phase electrical contactor comprising:
 a case, 
 three pairs of stationary contact devices partially positioned in the case, 
 and at least one movable contact bridge in the case, said at least one bridge for establishing connection between the stationary contacts of each pair of contact devices; 
 wherein each contact device comprises a substantially flat connection strip for connection of power supply bars of the contactor and at least two conductors extending longitudinally from one of its ends which is secured to the connection strip and to a stationary contact support, the contact devices being juxtaposed in the plane of their respective connection strips; 
 and each contact device comprises at least two pieces, each being unitary folded conducting metal, each piece comprising one of the conductors and a connection part which is identical in shape to and of smaller thickness than the connection strip of the device so that superposition of said parts forms the connection strip. 
 
     
     
       19. The electrical contactor according to  claim 18  wherein the contact supports of each of the conductors are located in the same plane parallel to and offset with respect to the connection strip, and the connection strip includes four holes for securing the connection parts to one another. 
     
     
       20. The electrical contactor according to  claim 18  wherein each contact device comprises two pieces, each piece having a rectangular connection part, one side of which is extended by the conductor which is U-shaped with two parallel branches, the first branch comprising the contact supports in the same plane parallel to the connection strip, and the second branch is parallel to the first branch and offset with respect to its respective connection part.